A grinning Mark Williams has brushed aside criticism of snooker emcee Rob Walker, insisting his close friend can say whatever he pleases. The Welsh legend is well acquainted with the man responsible for announcing players into the arena, and there has been no shortage of light-hearted jibes so far at the World Championship.

Introducing Williams ahead of the opening session of his first-round match against Antoni Kowalski at the Crucible, Walker took to the microphone before a near-1,000-strong crowd and declared: "Finally, to a player whose debut was so long ago, we can barely remember. In 1997, he had a full thatch [of hair] and 20-20 vision.

"The eyesight is going, the hair is long, long gone. But make no mistake, he is one of the all-time greats. Runner-up last year, three-time a champion du monde, the absolute legend. The irrepressible, the irreplaceable, Mark J Williams."

Before the second session, Walker continued the theme, quipping: "29 years ago on this very day it was his turn to be the fresh-faced 22-year-old debutant with boyish good looks, a full head of hair and perfect vision. How little has changed in the intervening years!

"He hasn't been to a barber in decades but lest we forget, he remains one of our all-time greats. Finalist at 49, three times a champion du monde, it wouldn't be a Worlds without Willo."

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Williams saw the funny side, cheekily aiming a mock kick towards Walker's groin as he strolled past, though some social media users were less than impressed by the introductions from Walker, who also works as a commentator for the BBC at the event.

However, the player himself brushed those suggestions aside entirely as he gave his own account of events following his victory over the Pole.

Williams said: "Yeah, cheeky little...! I liked it when he said, did he say something like, 10 years and not seen a barber? I liked that, that was good. Look, I don't mind what Rob says.

"He said to me: You don't get upset, do you? I say: Rob, come on, you can say whatever you want to me, I couldn't give a monkey's. Just say what you want. I know I'll have you tonight.

"I didn't think he was coming out with that, like! That was a good one. He's going to have to up that next time now.

"Ah, he can do whatever, he can say whatever he wants. It makes no difference to me. The more stick I get, the more I like it. That's why I'm on Twitter, for a bit of stick, really."

When asked what it might be like should Walker continue raising the stakes, Williams laughed: "Well, I don't know, it's his fault he started high, ain't he? A chopsy hit, mind you."